Environmental Choice

Sustainability. It's a word we're hearing a lot of in the building and construction industry and one that we're going to hear even more of in the near future as government makes sustainability a core part of its policy.

At Winstone Wallboards, we've embraced sustainability and are working hard to significantly reduce our impact on the environment. We've integrated environmental awareness into all our business activities.

In recognition of our efforts to continuously improve the sustainability of our products, we're thrilled to have received Environmental Choice certification for our GIB^® plasterboards 13mm or greater in thickness.

Below outlines Winstone Wallboards' Environmental Choice credentials and will provide you with the factual information you need to support the choice of GIB^® plasterboard on ‘green' building projects.

Care in Manufacturing

Gypsum or, to use its scientific name, calcium sulphate dihydrate (CaSO₄.2H₂O) is a naturally occurring mineral and most deposits are considered to be precipitates formed during the evaporation of sea waters saturated with soluble salts.

GIB^® plasterboard is made up of naturally occurring gypsum, 100% recycled paper, and a small quantity of other ingredients (which includes approved glues and additives required to improve the quality of the finished board).

Our plasterboard manufacturing plants in Auckland and Christchurch have
put in place measures to reduce their environmental impacts by:

• controlling discharges to water including suspended solids
• removing CFC/halons in the production process
• not using solvents containing halogenated hydrocarbons
• implementing an effective energy management policy
• reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% over the past 15 years
• minimising waste and diverting all plasterboard production waste away from landfill into compost.

Waste Reducing Range

GIB^® plasterboard can be ordered in many standard sizes that allow the builder to reduce the amount of waste by ordering the most efficient lengths.

In addition, we offer a cut-to-length service that reduces the amount of waste on building sites (requires minimum 100 sheets and 10 working days lead time).

A certain amount of waste plasterboard is inevitable at the completion of a job.

However because GIB^® plasterboard uses only a small percentage of binders, additives and surface treatments, it is completely recyclable. On larger projects the waste plasterboard can be separated on site and diverted to approved composting operations to be blended with compost and returned to soils throughout the country.

For smaller projects, it can be ground up and spread around the building site reducing the volumes of construction waste going to landfills. We also supply information on suitable paint types to be used with GIB^® plasterboard that don't compromise its recyclability.

Greener Living Spaces

GIB^® plasterboard contributes to a healthier living environment in a number of important ways:

• No toxins - consisting largely of natural gypsum and 100% recycled paper, GIB^® plasterboard does not contain the toxins inherent to a number of other manufactured building products
• Thermally responsive - the nature of GIB^® plasterboard composite allows it to respond quickly to heating and cooling effects
• Fire safety - the chemical composition of plasterboard makes it an ideal material for use in fire resisting construction. GIB Fyreline^® is widely used in fire-rated walls and ceilings
• Acoustic properties - GIB Noiseline^® is used to reduce noise levels within residential and commercial buildings for the comfort of building occupants.